Auburn boys who shot BBs sentenced to wheelchair

Seattle Times ^ | 12/5/03 | Michael Ko

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Two 12-year-old Auburn boys who recently fired a BB rifle at a group of day-care children were ordered to spend a weekend in wheelchairs at a shopping mall and to write a two-page paper about the experience.

The boys targeted and hit seven children, ages 5 to 14, including one boy who was in an electric wheelchair. None of the injuries was serious.

The unusual sentence was handed down Wednesday by King County Juvenile Court Judge LeRoy McCullough, against the wishes of prosecutors, who had asked the boys be sentenced to some time in juvenile detention.

"We felt that there were a number of young, vulnerable victims who were in danger of serious harm," said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. "We were looking for more of a standard-type sentence."

The boys were facing a maximum penalty of 90 days in detention and 450 hours of community service.

In his alternative sentence, McCullough asked the boys to consider "what it feels like to be a youth in a wheelchair."

McCullough has a close relative who uses a wheelchair, according to Donohoe.

Juvenile Court judges, in most cases, have discretion during sentencing.

Among the questions the judge asked the boys to answer in their papers:

"Any problems with doors to bathrooms, stores or other places?" "What did it feel like trying to shop in a wheelchair?" "Did people seem to respect you? Or disrespect you? Show sympathy to you? Pity you?"

The double-spaced papers are due Dec. 15. The boys must also complete 76 hours of community service.

Mark Beckwith, a spokesman for ADAPT in Northern California, a disability-rights group, said there is some controversy within the community of people with disabilities about these kinds of awareness exercises.

He said some people were worried, for example, that a wheelchair day at a local university, where students spent one day in wheelchairs, turned into a joke and a spectacle.

"But if (these kids) spend all day in a wheelchair, they're bound to learn something they didn't think of before," Beckwith said. "You're bound to discover places that you can't go, things you can't reach."

On Oct. 9, the boys were charged with seven counts of third-degree assault and one count of malicious mischief.

Police said the boys hid behind a fence and fired a BB rifle at children at a day-care facility at the Auburn Church of the Nazarene. At first, the children thought they were being stung by bees.

Police said the boys were taking turns shooting at a cardboard-box target, a light pole and a trash bin, before becoming bored and aiming at the kids, about 75 feet from the fence. The boys also hit an Office Depot truck, cracking the windshield.

[ZGuy]

I gotta go with you. The headlines the next day will tell of shoppers who had to dodge two teenagers who spent the day racing each other through the mall in wheelchairs while the security guards couldn't stop them because it was court ordered. The article will also point out how the kids learned to do wheelies and how they learned that it is possible to go down the up escalator in a wheelchair while wearing shades and listening to headphones set on "stun".

[half_nelson]

I understand shame but this is flat out ridiculous. He will get nothing from this experience. He is 12 and he is a boy- it will be fun and something that he and his friends can joke about. I bet the paper will sure be well thought out! (sarcasm) The suggestion for community service would be much more beneficial.

[EggsAckley]

Heheheh. Yep! You paint a perfect picture. Eggsackley what I envisioned!

[michigander]

Why wouldn't parents have to drive them AND wheelchairs to the mall?

Perhaps they will? This article is quite short on details.

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

"Why wouldn't the parents have to drive them to the mall. And this time of the year WHERE would they park?"

What did you see in there that indicated parental involvement other than driving?

Why would the parents be excited to help during the cold crowded icy parking lot holidays?

Maybe I missed the section where the parents will write their papers as well?

[Tax-chick]

I was suggesting that the parents might be motivated to be more responsible in future, if the boys' punishment also inconvenienced the parents. I would expect to have some legal responsibility if my sons did something so dangerous and destructive. Sorry if I wasn't clear.

(And how are you doing that with the type - the large print is restful to these old eyes!)

[tet68]

Not if they give them a spinal first.
Let them see what it's like not to be able to move or feel their toes, feed them lots of cokes then let them see what it's like to try and use a public restroom in that condition.

I'm leaving out the part where they are in the mall parking lot and other teen age jerks get to shoot at them with a bb gun.

[Bob Mc]

"He is 12 and he is a boy- it will be fun and something that he and his friends can joke about."

Yes indeed, While there amongst the adults he'll act contrite and sorry, and come Monday he'll be yucking it up with his buddies what a stupid lame idea these people came up with. And he will be even more frustrated with adults. He needs clear establish boundries of appropriate behavior, and harsh punishment when breached, not role playing phoney empathy crap on how awful it is to be handicapped.

Punishment my a$$! A pile of liberal social feel goodism if you ask me.

[TontoKowalski]

As I read this story, I was just trying to imagine the ass-whipping my Dad would have administered had I been involved in such a hateful, dangerous activity.

It's about what my own son would get if he did something like this.

[michigander]

Let them see what it's like not to be able to move or feel their toes,...

That is an impossible scenario as they know that they will be able, after their "sentence", to walk away from their judicially imposed confinement.

[festus]

I dunno the strop is good but so is caning.

Perhaps we should try both on the lad and ask him which one taught him the bigger lesson .........

.

[LibKill]

Hanging Judge: "Bailiff!"

300lb Bailiff: "Yes, your honor".

Hanging Judge: "Bend that little punk over the bar and put thirty hard whacks on his smartass butt with your belt! HARD!"

300lb Bailiff: "Yes, your honor".

That would be a penalty that would get through to these delinquents.

Of course, I am living in a dream world. Something that makes as much sense as giving a stupid punk a dose of the strap would never happen in reality.

[sunryse]

>Shame is a very old sort of punishment. Biblical type >stuff.

A very good one too. My six year old daughter stole a dollar from her brother's dresser and I told her we don't associate with thieves. Noone in the family talked to her for the entire day. She did not "exist" to us. She was begging us to acknowledge her and by the end of the day (she was fed BTW, just silently) she swore she'd NEVER EVER steal again. She hasn't to my knowledge, even making sure to bring me any money she has found. A friend of mine's husband said it was tantamount to child abuse. His son stole $100 from my friends purse (his stepmom, and he was six also) and he refused to punish him. Said "all kids go through that". Let's see whose child will continue to steal and whose won't.

[Freedom4US]

I don't see this as particularly cruel or unusual? I'm also quite certain the standards of what was unusual has changed definitions quite a bit. We mustn't make give our criminal classes any neurosis by shaming them, ya know.

[wizardoz]

Maybe a good vigorous spanking, with a razor strop.

I'm with you.

[Chad Fairbanks]

True enough... I learned how to do wheelies and stuff in one of those, and had a blast. This sentence is a joke...

[RightWingAtheist]

Timmy's feeling mighty nervous...